1 - How does this system eliminate costly walers?
2 - Can this system give straight walls without bracing?
3 - How many pours can I get from these forms?
4 - Can I turn the plywood and use it again?
6 - How much storage space is required for Strip-Ease forms?
7 - How much loose hardware is used?
8 - How much do these panels weigh?
9 - Can odd dimensions be easily formed?
10 - Can walls higher than 8 feet be formed with this system?
11 - Will panels shift out of position on the footings when I start to pour?
13 - What about stripping and break-back?
14 - Can Westcon Strip-Ease ties be used without plywood panels?
15 - Does this system erect as fast as my present system?
16 - What is the relative cost of ties?
1 - How does this system eliminate costly walers?
The toe plate is nailed to the footing as the first step in erecting Westcon Strip-Ease forms. This single plate aligns the complete wall. Panels are tacked to the top plate to position them during erection. The Westcon Strip-Ease System uses the pressure of fluid concrete to position the forms accurately while pouring. This pressure pushes the panels against the bars and is taken up by the ties. The bars distribute the pressure over the face of the panels.
2 - Can this system give straight walls without bracing?
The only bracing necessary is on one side to align the wall and join the panels during the form erection. The absense of a frame-work of studs and walers to receive the build-up of pressure is a departure from older, more costly methods.
3 - How many pours can I get from these forms?
That depends upon the care you give the forms. With proper handling, cleaning, and oiling the plywood is good for at least 100 pours. Forms in the field which have been used for over 100 pours are still giving a good looking wall. Fatigue of the plywood can be delayed considerably if you avoid undue stress due to excessively fast pouring. As with all your equipment, if the forms are given reasonable care and used intelligently you will get more pours at lower cost.
4 - Can I turn the plywood and use it again?
Yes. As a matter of fact, it is recommended that the plywood be reversed for each successive pour. This is possible because the forms consist only of plain sheets of 3/4 inch plywood with absolutely no frame-work or hardware of any kind
Yes. We supply easy to follow directions. All materials necessary for panel forms are available from us or from your Westcon Strip-Ease dealer and 3/4 inch plywood is available from any lumber dealer. Westcon Strip-Ease panels are built simply and easily by routing tie slots in a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood. Any size panel which is applicable to your job may be used but we find 2' x 8' or 4' x 8' panels most practical for general construction.
6 - How much storage space is required for Strip-Ease forms?
A complete set of forms for the average home basement including all plywood panels, corner pieces and steel bars can be stacked on a 12 foot flat bed truck. Only one trip for the truck is necessary when moving from job to job. Some contractors are using small four wheel trailers hooked on to pick-up trucks for moving complete sets in one trip.
7 - How much loose hardware is used?
With Westcon Strip-Ease System there is no need to carry spare hardware inventory to replace lost items - a neccessary headache with other form systems. In fact the only hardware items are corner hinges and these are attached to the corner pieces of plywood and cannot be lost.
8 - How much do these panels weigh?
Westcon Strip-Ease panels consist only of 3/4 inch plywood which weighs 2 2/3 lbs. per sq. foot.
9 - Can odd dimensions be easily formed?
Most Jobs don't comform to exact modules, but fillers are no problem with the Westcon Strip-Ease System. They can be simply cut on the job from plywood or common sheathing. The last step in erection and the first step in wrecking is at the filler point. When fillers are used, tie and bar spacing must not exceed the spacing of regular panels.
10 - Can walls higher than 8 feet be formed with this system?
If just an extra inch or two is required set the forms on 2" x 4" 's laid on top of the footing. If walls are over 8 feet lay panels horizontally and run the bar vertically and stack the panels to form any height.
11 - Will panels shift out of position on the footings when I start to pour?
No. Each panel is securely held in place by the toe plate on the footing.
The pressure created by the concrete in any form is dependent upon the temperature, the amount of drop and vibrating methods, etc. For complete details of recommended pouring rates for various tie spacing and temperature, refer to Westcon Strip-Ease tie load charts.
13
- What about stripping and break-back?
Extremely fast stripping and positive quarter inch break-back are among the main advantages of the Westcon Strip-Ease System. In one simple operation the tie is broken back 1/4 inch in the concrete and the tie and bar removed from the form. This is done with a saving of approximately 2/3 the labour over other systems. Form panels are then removed leaving a true, smooth wall. There are no projecting ends to cut, twist or hammer back into the wall.
14 - Can Westcon Strip-Ease ties be used without plywood panels?
Yes. If repeatd form use is not practical, Westcon Strip-Ease ties can be slipped between common board and steel bars set vertically. This eliminates most of the nailing and walering required compared to 2" x 4" 's.
15 - Does this system erect as fast as my present system?
The Westcon Strip-Ease panel system will go up in the field as fast as, or faster than conventional forming systems.
16 - What is the relative cost of ties?
Although individual tie cost is usually lower, more ties may be used than some other systems. However, this is more than compensated for by lower initial form costs, lower transportation costs and lower stripping costs.